<p>I recently graduated from a top undergraduate business school with degree in finance and minor in math. I kind of coasted through college, partied all the time, and played poker instead of going to class so I did very poorly with my gpa < 3.0. I also realized I have almost no interest in finance. Last summer, I took a temp job as a computer programmer and really enjoyed the work, so I've decided to shift my career path. However, I'm completely self-taught and have never taken a course on the subject (other than AP comp sci in high school). Therefore compounded with my terrible grades I couldn't find a job. </p>
<p>So I think my only solution is to go to graduate school for a master's degree. But there lies the dilemma: I have no course work in the subject. However, I do very well on standarized tests (almost perfect scores on SAT I and SAT IIs). And I'm prepared to spend a year to teach myself all the fundamental comp sci material taught to undergrads. So now hypothetically, if I score very high on the regular GRE and the comp sci subject GRE, do I have a shot at grad schools? And which schools would I be looking at? </p>
<p>If you can do well on the CS subject GRE, that will help your case, but you’re still going to need professors who can speak about your academic abilities in the field. Instead of teaching yourself all the way, you might want to enroll in CS courses and higher level math on a non-matriculated basis, just so you can demonstrate that you’ve changed, both in your attitude toward academics and in your interests.</p>
<p>You likely should know C, Java, Matlab and scheme or equivalent, but programming is just a small part of CS. CS Grad classes are very difficult and I can’t imagine you can do it without the foundations (including a rigorous comprehensive introductory program.) Do you have discrete mathematics, advanced calc, linear alg, differential equations, probability? If not do the math sequences in a class environment.</p>
<p>In addition you will need to study algorithms and data structures, theory, software design, architecture, In addition, most CS student have exposure to some or all of the following: database structures, AI, computer vision, robotics, networks, security.</p>
<p>I can’t see that your transcript + 800 GRE would get you admitted. But acing the CS GRE might be a different story. I think doing classwork and getting A’s would speak the best toward your comittment and ability. There are any number of decent masters programs in CS just dozens. Your aren’t talking top tier, are you?</p>
<p>I actually have an ok background in math (only needed two more courses for a major). They were about the only classes I had decent grades in. I’ve taken all the classes you’ve mentioned including numerical analysis with matlab. I’m fluent in Java, C++, SQL, R, matlab, and VBA. And from AP Comp Sci AB, I also covered data structures and what not. But I’m pretty rusty on pure theory. </p>
<p>I’m considering taking community college courses, but I have two concerns with them. First, I’m afraid the quality of education will be lacking vs me studying on my own. Second, that graduate schools won’t take my grades and coursework in them seriously. So, the other option is taking courses in colleges for non-degrees. Is admission easier this way?</p>
<p>Don’t do community college courses – they aren’t meant to prepare students for graduate school. (They are fine for introductory courses for freshmen and sophomores.) Find a university near you that will allow you to take courses as a non-matriculated student.</p>
<p>Maybe you should look at the CS GRE to see where your gaps in knowledge lie.</p>
<p>It’s good you have the math, but I don’t think that an AP course will be sufficient knowledge of algorithms and data structures or theory. I think it is a good idea to look at the requirements for upper division CS majors and see if you can take some at a 4 year.</p>
<p>Let’s backtrack a bit. You recently graduated with less than a 3.0 in finance, with no computer science courses. You had one temporary job as a programmer, although you know several computer languages and applications.</p>
<p>Right now, your odds of getting into a master’s program in computer science are slim. Academically, you are too big a risk, not just because of your GPA but because you haven’t proven in any tangible way that you can handle (or even know) the material. Yes, programming is important, but it’s a small part of computer science. As BrownParent points out, you need a solid background in different aspects before you can start advanced work. Here’s a snippet from the UCSD page:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So the question really is: What do you have to do to <em>eventually</em> gain admission into a master’s program?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Take computer science (not programming) courses at a university or four-year college. You’ll probably also have to throw physics in there. </p></li>
<li><p>Find work that relates to the field, even if it’s just a programming job. Even better, see if you can work on a project with a professor at the school where you’re taking classes.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As I advised the OP of the other thread I cited here: know the difference between IT and CS – and make sure you really want CS. Also, if you just want to be a programmer, you don’t need an advanced degree to get a software engineer position. You don’t even need a high GPA.</p>
<p>You posted something very pertinent. My goal is to be a programmer/software engineer. So if I don’t have to go to graduate school, then I don’t want to. But the problem is my low gpa and my non CS-degree basically gets me screened out of all job interviews of that type.</p>
<p>My advice to you: forget getting a masters degree in computer science.
Focus on getting practical experience.</p>
<p>Learn a specific skill like: android development, iphone development, silverlight. Work your butt off, working on an independant project in your spare time. Make it something useful and cool, and release it. You don’t need to make that much money off it, but you can put that project on your resume.</p>
<p>Google and MS won’t hire you right away, but that kind of platform-specific skill can turn some heads and you can probably get a contract at a small company. Contracting jobs are very easy to get compared to full time and they are a good start! From there, once you have a contract or two, your lack of academic experience won’t be a big issue.</p>
<p>Also, you already had a programming job. It doesn’t matter that it was temporary. See if you can get references from that job. Unless you were fired, you already have your stepping stone into the field.</p>